I've Suffered for Five Years, Now It's Your Turn. ~The Crown Princess Has No Intention of Forgiving~ - Episode 13

Even without seeing it, I could already imagine the people’s fury after reading the special edition flyers.
They had poured sweat into their work, devoting most of their lives to earn wages—only to have those earnings taken away in taxes.
And yet, this is how the royal family repays them? It’s beyond disappointing.

“…I didn’t think the story had spread this far.”

In response to my words, His Majesty clutched one of the flyers that had been distributed throughout the capital.
While he lowered his head in frustration, a lone voice rang out—a woman shouting loudly.

“Harvin! This is an act of hostility against our nation!”

“…Camilla.”

Everyone turned toward Queen Camilla as she pointed at me and started ranting.

“Destroying the trust we’ve worked so hard to build for the sake of national peace—such actions are unacceptable for someone in the position of queen!”
“Queen Camilla, if we’re being honest, you were the one who destroyed that trust in the first place.”

“W-What are you saying?!”

“The flyer includes evidence pointing to the embezzlement we discussed before. The public’s anger is directed at you as well.”

“Wha… no…”

Did she really think I was only targeting Erik?
There was no way I’d let Camilla, who was clearly complicit, get away with it.
Anyone who tarnished the Sylvan royal family deserved to face the consequences.

“You used the name of charity to funnel donations to a certain count’s household. We’ll be looking into your connection with that family too. I hope nothing indecent turns up.”

“!!”

“Surely, the queen wouldn’t stoop to such disgraceful behavior, right?”

“Y-You… how dare you… I’m the queen! How can you speak to me like that?”

So now, with nothing left to say, she resorts to throwing around her title.
How pitiful that someone in her position can’t even refute the accusations properly.

“Do you think you’ll get away with this––”

“Silence, Camilla.”

“!!”

A cold, cutting voice stopped Camilla’s shouting.
His Majesty had raised his gaze and was now staring straight at her.

“If the accusations against you prove true… then I have no choice but to see justice served.”

“Say no more. You’re dragging the royal family’s name through the mud. The same goes for Erik and Rosaline. From now on, I forbid you all from interfering in my conversation with Princess Filia. You’re in the way.”

King Harvin now saw me as his only discussion partner.
That meant he had no logical arguments to counter the strategy I’d presented.
Erik and the others fell silent, their faces pale.

“Well done, Princess Filia. Your skill is impressive. Frankly, I’m ashamed of the things I said earlier.”

“Please proceed with the investigation. That’s all I ask.”

“Denying it now would only further disgrace the Harvin royal family. I have no choice but to accept it. To think even I, the king, have been cornered by a single queen.”

As I gave a small, formal bow under his approving gaze, I couldn’t help but feel inwardly disappointed in King Harvin’s earlier irresponsibility.

“If you were my daughter… perhaps I would’ve seen things differently.”

But frankly, I wouldn’t want a father who turns a blind eye to the cruelty faced by his daughter.
I kept that thought to myself and said nothing.

Then King Harvin raised his voice to address the royal scribes around him.
His powerful tone made the air itself tremble.

“From this moment forward, I order a full investigation into the royal family’s misconduct. Let the truth come to light through a fair and thorough inquiry!”

Thanks to my strategy, we’d finally reached the point of launching an official investigation.
The scribes immediately began moving into action.

Now that the path was clear, the suspicions surrounding Erik and the others would soon turn into certainties.
And to prevent one particular danger, I took one more step.

“Your Majesty, if I may?”

“What is it?”

“For the sake of fairness, I request that members of the Sylvan royal family be included in the investigation.”

“! You suspect we might try to cover things up? Do you realize how insulting that is to our nation?”

“It’s your side that should be considering that. You’re the ones who’ve damaged our trust. We are simply proposing a calm and cooperative investigation between our nations to avoid a larger conflict.”

“!!”

“Do you understand now, Your Majesty…? This is no longer just Harvin’s problem.”

But this wasn’t the end of my goal.
When the formal investigation begins, Sylvan will also be involved.
That way, they’ll have no chance to cover up the evidence—and this won’t escalate into a political conflict.
We’ll present it as a joint effort between two nations.

The people will see it as a sign of unity, not hostility. We won’t let old wartime grudges resurface.
On the surface, it’s a peaceful collaboration—but in truth, it gives Sylvan full authority to conduct a strict and independent investigation.

“So you don’t trust us.”

“Given your actions so far, isn’t that obvious?”

“…You’ve planned this far ahead?”

“I’m glad you understand, King Harvin.”

“…I’ve clearly underestimated the Sylvan princess. Very well. I will allow Sylvan to take part in the investigation.”
Finally, I had secured it.
The right to conduct a legitimate investigation under the name of my nation.

After a year of preparation, I now had the power to expose their crimes—
Crimes that I had no authority to confront before.

Now, I had returned to the chessboard they tried to knock me off—
And I was the queen moving the pieces.

“Erik, Rosaline, and Camilla… You are all to be monitored and your movements restricted for the time being.”

King Harvin was now backed into a corner. He had no more room to hesitate.

“N-No… Father…”

“Dear, are we really going to let some little girl have her way with us?”

“Silence. This disaster is your doing. You’ll take full responsibility for this scandal.”

Their protests no longer reached King Harvin.
He shut them down completely, leaving them with no choice but to stay silent.

During this formal audience, we managed to push through the launch of an official investigation.
Now, I just had to find one crucial piece of evidence—quickly.

Something beyond mere misconduct—evidence of a far greater crime.
A year ago, I had no authority to uncover it.

But now… I will prove that they lied when they claimed I couldn’t bear children.
If I do, the consequences for Erik and the others will go far beyond simple corruption.

I’m not done yet.
They’ll be brought down—completely.

…

Three days passed since the audience.
In that time, the Sylvan royal family released a furious public statement, and the people’s outrage only grew.

In a few more days, official envoys from Sylvan would arrive.
Considering how sloppy Erik and the others were with their records, it wouldn’t take much effort to find incriminating evidence.

So for now, I was preparing to gather proof of Queen Camilla’s wrongdoing in her private chambers.
It was then—

“Lady Filia, Prince Luans has requested to see you.”

Knight Ryug delivered the message, and I nodded.

When Luans arrived, his expression was unusually solemn.

“Is something wrong, Luans?”

“I was reminded once again of how helpless I am… after seeing how you convinced my father. You’ve been the one correcting our royal family’s mistakes.”

“I’m doing this for my own reasons.”

“…Even so, I hate to add to our failures, but I have something to report.”

“A report?”

“This morning, a letter was left in my office.”

He looked troubled as he placed a sheet of paper on the table.

“Apparently, the person who’s been feeding us information… isn’t happy with how things are turning out.”

“What?”

I turned my eyes to the letter.

‘As a matter of royal responsibility, stop Princess Filia’s investigation and settle the matter through divorce.’

No sender was listed. But the handwriting looked a lot like the one Luans had received previously.

This mysterious informant—
Their intentions had suddenly changed completely.